The reasons for the Rays’ attendance problems have been well documented, including in this space. No need to revisit the manifestly obvious. Leave it at this: At some point, sooner than later, the Rays will unilaterally opt out of that (2027) Trop lease. It won’t come cheap, but it’s the cost of (un)doing business in the sports-franchise universe. The protestations of St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster and his City Hall mouthpiece notwithstanding.
The Rays will relocate to Tampa or they will move far away.
It’s a dicey situation for Tampa. Mayor Bob Buckhorn, to his credit, doesn’t wear regional blinders. Neither does he want to get sued for “tampering.” So he has said just enough to let Rays’ owner Stu Sternberg know that Tampa will not sit idly and join St. Pete in waving good bye to his team. Buckhorn also has underscored the reality that he can’t promise tax revenues he doesn’t have. Fortunately, as it were, during the current economic climate other would-be suitors are in similar fiscal fixes.
So Buckhorn throwing out the first pitch the other night at the Rays-Cincinnati Reds game was a bit more than your basic ceremonial rite of passage for a local politico. Certainly not irrelevant that the Rays invited him. They know what a major-market, hub-city presence could mean: the difference between staying and leaving.
And one other scenario the Rays are watching with interest: the pro-activity of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. The chamber, a known proponent of keeping the Rays in the region, has found reciprocity with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce in the push for a post-Trop Rays facility. They’ll stay away from relocation scenarios. Their primary charge is to scrutinize possible sources of stadium financing, most notably private.
The water may be a “big divide” when it comes to Trop attendees, but Tampa’s mayor and key business interests have no problem bridging the bay. And the Rays, ever mindful of “tampering” subplots, are obviously taking note.